Marquez: Ducati’s 2025 Engine “Strong in Some, But Very Weak in Other Points”
Marc Marquez says Ducati "can’t afford to take the risk" of homologating an engine the team is unsure about.
After a full day in the scorching heat at the Chang International Circuit in Thailand, Marc Marquez led the rest of the MotoGP field on Buriram test day two.
The Spaniard beat the previous best lap time of his brother by +0.179s and led the field on the final day of preseason running. Even more impressive than his one-lap pace, however, was Marquez’s race simulation.
Completing a 25-lap long run, the eight-time World Champion averaged a 1:30.4. The fastest-ever race lap around Buriram is a 1:30.869 set by Marco Bezzecchi in 2023.
The Italian, being loaded with testing work after Jorge Martin’s injury, was happy about his adaptation to the new bike after the two-day test. He completed the Top 3 trailing Marquez in front by two-tenths.
Pedro Acosta led the in the opening hour on the factory KTM and ended the day fourth overall.
Although KTM riders are not allowed to speak to the media, rumors float around the paddock, though the KTM seems to be competitive on one lap, it has become a tyre killer over the winter.
Former World Champion Pecco Bagnaia’s testing woes continued despite finishing the day fifth-fastest. After “nothing worked” for him on the first day of running, the Italian did not look significantly more comfortable on the bike.
Several new parts on the GP25 are supposedly not to the Italian’s, but also not to Marc Marquez’s liking. The Bologna manufacturer confirmed late on the day, they’ll homologate the old, but proven GP24 engine for 2025 & 2026.
Honda, again, surprised with Joan Mir finishing the day a strong sixth setting a 1:29.399. VR46 Ducati’s Franco Morbidelli was seventh.
The Italian’s former teammate Fabio Quartararo put the factory Yamaha into eighth on the combined timesheets. Having suffered a “strange day” on the first day of running, today’s 1:29.586 is a big improvement.
Jack Miller rounded out the top 10 on the Pramac Yamaha, being +0.483s off the pace.
